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James Harden is Home

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After a year and a half wait, James Harden is a 76er. First reported by Shams and Woj, the 76ers have officially traded for James Harden. The Sixers managed to keep both Tyrese Maxey and Mattisse Thybulle as they sent BKN Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and 2 first round picks. Managing to keep their 2 best young players, this is the Sixers projected starting lineup:

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Impressive.. I know. Daryl Morey is amazing for pulling off this trade after all this time. 

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biggest help that James Harden provides, in my opinion, is rotations. Doc Rivers has awful rotations that eventually lead to big runs with Embiid off the court. Now, there shouldn’t be a minute that a top-10 offensive player won’t be on the court. This gives the Sixers the opportunity to run Tobi and Harden with the bench, while Embiid and Maxey get their rest. 

Harden will also be an aid to Tobias Harris while Embiid’s out. This ensures that there is a top scorer and/or playmaker on the court with him at all times. Putting Tobi back as the 3rd option, taking the weight off his shoulders. 

This shouldn’t take away from Embiid’s personal success as he’s shown he can score 35+ on a night where two others score 30+. It also gives the Sixers another threat that the defense needs to be aware of to get Embiiid more room to operate. Embiid lost a shooter in Curry, but he could run an arguably better PnR with Harden. There shouldn’t be any worry when it comes to Embiid. 

To all my fellow Sixers fans out there, just enjoy today. This is a great time to be a Sixers fan and everybody should be happy. For the first time in a while, the Sixers look like true contenders. Morey and Harden are reunited, Embiid has a fellow superstar again, and the Sixers kept Tisse and Maxey. James Harden is home, and all of Philadelphia can sleep peacefully tonight.

 

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